Capping-machine.



W. C. BUHLES.

CAPPING MACHINE.

APPLICATION FILED 0Ec.1, 1911.

Patented Nov. 30, 191 5 s swans-sneer 3.

E m WU vC m. m W V. B

His ATTORNEYS W. C. BUHLES.

CAPPING MACHINE.

APPLICATION FILED 0:0. 1, m1.

1,12,025, Patented Nov. 30, 1915.

5 SHEETSSHEET 4- INVENTOR W C. BUHLES.

H is ATTORNEYS W. C. BUHLES.

CAPPING MACHINE.

APPLICATION FILED DEC. 1. 1911.

Patented Nov. 30, 1915.

5 SHEETS-SHEET 5.

3 IaIa555225? 6 WITNESSES v mo WW C v 'I i// v 7 4m W ATTORNEYS IUNETSAT FATE FIE WILLIAM C. BUI-ILES, OF SAN FRANCISCO, CALIFORNIA,ASSIGNOR, BY MESNE ASSIGN- MENTS, TO ALUMINUM SEAL COMPANY, ACORPORATION OF PENNSYLVANIA.

CAPPING-MACHINE.

To all whom it may concern:

Be it known that I, VILLTAM C. BUrrLEs, a citizen of the United States,and a resident of the city and county of San Francisco and State ofCalifornia, have invented certain new and useful Improvements inCapping- Machines, of which the following is a specification.

This invention relates to capping machines for securing caps or coversto bottles, jars and similar receptacles, and more especially to amachine for applying caps, to receptacles formed of vitreous material,or covers of a vitreous material to similar receptacles by means ofretaining bands.

he object of the invention is to provide a machine for attaching caps orcovers to receptacles of a vitreous nature, which operates in' suchmanner that the liability of cracking or breaking of the receptacle orcover is reduced to a minimum.

Another object of the invention is to provide a capping machine in whichthe downward pressure on the cap or cover reaches a maximum before theside pressure is applied to secure the cap or retaining band to thereceptacle.

Another object of the invention is to provide a capping machine in whichthe downward pressure on the cap or cover-may be regulated independentlyof the side or inward pressure which serves to compress the flange ofthe cap or retaining band around the neck of the receptacle.

A further object of the invention is to provide an improved means forfeeding the caps or retaining bands to a position to engage thereceptacle.

.The machine possesses other advantageous featured-which, with theforegoing will be set forth at length in the following description,Where I shall outline in full that form of embodiment of the inventionwhich hasbeen selected for illustration in the drawings accompanying andforming partof the present specification. The novelty of the inventionwill be included in the claims succeeding said description. From this'itwill front elevation of the complete machine;

Specification of Letters Patent.

Patented Nov. so, 1915.

Application filed December 1, 1911. Serial No. 663,321.

-nism employed for regulating the downward and sidewise pressure, eachindependent of the other; Fig. 7 is a plan or top view of the detailshown in Fig. (3; Fig.- 8 is a vertical section through the feed hopper,showing the construction thereof; Fig. 9 is a plan of part of thefeeding apparatus showing the distributing plate and the agitatingplate; Fig. 10 is a side view of a fragment of the distributing plateshowing a cap in place thereon. Fig. ll'is a sectional perspective viewof the metallic cap. Fig. 12 is a sectional perspective view of theglass cap and metallic ring. Fig. 13 is an elevation of the powertransmitting mechanism in the base of the apparatus.

The machine consists of aframe 2 on which the various operating partsare arranged, and which is of suitable size and shape to support thevarious parts in their correct positions. The machine is provided with abase 3 by which it is attached to the floor and on this base 3 isarranged the casing 4v preferably formed integral. therewith which areadapted to be engaged by the spring pressed dog 85 pivotally attached tothe eccentric 86, which is loosely mounted on shaft .83. A foot lever 6,extending beyond' the frame of the machine, is provided with an arm 87which operates, when the foot pedal is raised. to force the dog 85 out:of engagement with the teeth 84, thereby halting the operation of themachine, which can only be accomplished at the end of a completeoperation of the apparatus.

Supported on the frame by the bracket 7, i

and slidable vertically therein is a spindle 8 to which verticalmovement is imparted from the driving mechanism through the connectingrod 9, the levers 12 and the links 13. The connecting rod 9 is securedat its lower end to the strap 88 surrounding the eccentric 86. The lowerend of the spindle 8 is guided by bearing in the bracket 1% which ispreferably formed integral with the bracket 7. the two parts beingconnected by a rib. Mounted on the spindle is the table 15 on which thereceptacle rests during the capping operation. This table is adjustablyarranged with regard to .the spindle, so that it can be raised orlowered depending on the height of the receptacle to be capped. Thisadjustability may be accomplished in several ways, and in the drawings Ihave shown a screw threaded shank 16 fitting into the spindle 8 andlocked in position by the nut 17 bearing against the upper surface ofthe spindle.

The table 15 is generally circular in shape and is formed of a metallicdisk 18 upon which is fastened a cushion 19, formed preferably ofrubber. This rubber cushion is generally formed of separate blocks ofrubber, spaced apart so that it may readily yield when pressure isapplied. On top of the rubber cushion is a flat plate generally formedof leather, on which the receptacle rests. Since the machine is designedespecially for operating on bottles and jars of vitreous or fragilematerial, the cushion is interposed to relieve the receptacles from anysudden shocks and to distribute the pressure evenly over the bottom. Thebottoms of the receptacles are often irregular, and if a rigid tablewere used, the pressure would concentrate at certain points of thebottom and break the receptacle. The table is also provided with a guideor backing member 21 which is adjustable radially of the table. Thisguide is adjusted for various sizes of receptacles, so that when thereceptacle is placed on the table and against the guide, it is incentral position on the table.

The levers 12, which operate to raise and lower the table are fulcrumedon the cross bar 22 which is supported by the rod 23; This rod 23 passesthrough the cross piece 24 in the frame and is in turn supported by thecoiled spring 25 surrounding the rod and bearing against a nut on itsupper end and the cross piece.

Arranged on the frame, above the table 15 and in line therewith is thehead 26 in which the caps or covers are secured to the receptacles. Thehead is supported in the bracket 27 which is rigidly attached to theframe and which projects from the frame a' suitable distance to hold thehead in the proper position. The head 26 is removably held in thebracket by a bayonet joint, and

is prevented from rotating therein by the spring pin 28. The object ofmaking the head removable is to allow the pressure rings to be readilychanged, to remove mangled caps and to allow heads of various interiorsizes to be used, so that the machine may beused on receptacles havingopenings of various sizes. Each size head is designed to be used with acap or retaining band of a given diameter.

The head is made cylindrical in form and is provided with an openingextending vertically therein for receiving the cap and the neck of thereceptacle. This opening flares outwardly at the bottom to allow a moreready insertion and centering of the receptacle neck. The upper part ofthe cylinder is provided with lugs 29 which engage with the bracket 27in the form of a bayonet joint.

Arranged within the head are means which act during the operation of themachine to press or roll the flange of the-cap or retaining band againstthe neck of the receptacle and into locking engagement therewith. Thiscrimping'or rolling means may be of any suitable construction,thepreferred form being a. ring of conformable material such as theindia rubber ring 32, seated within the head upon a flange 31 and whichis adapted to be distorted to press or crimp the flange of the capagainst the bottle neck. In the preferred construction, in which theindia rubber ring 32 is used, an internal cylinder 33 rests with itslower end upon the rubber ring- 32, so that a downward movement of thecylinder 33 against the ring will cause it to be distorted in transversesection, forcing part of the ring inward radially against the flange onthe cap and pressing it firmly against the bot tle neck, and intolocking engagement therewith, at the same time conforming to anyirregularities in the bottle neck and causing the pressure to be equallyexerted at all points.

Within the head and in such position that it is engaged by the top ofthe cap or retaining band, is a yielding or conformable member, whichacts to exert an evenly distributed downward pressure on the cap. Thisdownward presser is arranged so that it yields against the upwardpressure of the bottle and cap conforming to any irregularities thereinand is preferably formed of india rubber in the shape of a disk or ring.In the preferred construction illustrated in the drawings this presserconsists of an india rubber ring 35' mounted upon the lower end of thecylindrical block 34, arranged Within the cylinder 33 and projectsdownward beyond the face of the block. The ring 35 seats on acircumferential ledge in the block and is provided with a projectingridge 36 engaging a groove in the block 34 to prevent it from becomingdisplaced. The preferable relative position of the rubber rings is such,that in inoperative position, the lower part of ring lies within thering 32.

. The neck of the receptacle entering the head engages the cap and movesup with it against the ring 35, the upward pressure of the receptacledistorting the ring, conforming it to the shape of the cap and pressingthe cap tightly against the top of the receptacle. The caps arepreferably made of a yielding material which conforms to the shape ofthe top of the bottle when pressure is applied, and usually contain apacking ring or disk for tightly sealing the joint..

WVhen caps of a more rigid material are used thepacking ring isdistorted to conform to the top of the bottleand seal the joint. Theconformable quality of the ring 35 causes the pressure-to be evenlydistributed over the top of the receptacle or the cover and prevents aconcentration of the pressure at one point which would tend to break therecep tacle. This feature is especially valuable when glass covers areapplied to glass receptacles, as a concentration of the pressure in thisinstance due-to any irregularities in the cover ,or the receptacle wouldfrequently break either the cover or the receptacle.

The block 34 is attached to a cross bar 37 which passes through slots 38in cylinder 33 and rests within the recesses 39 in the bracket 27 sothat the cylinder 33 may be moved downward to compress the rubber ring32 without interfering with the downward pressure on the bottle.

The head is also provided with a laterally arranged passage 41 forconveying the caps or retaining bands to proper position to engage thereceptacle as it enters the head. The spring held dogs 42 arranged onopposite sides of the mouth of the head, hold the cap in position andare pressed back as the receptacle enters.

The inner cylinder 33 is moved downward to distort the rubber ring 32 bythe levers 43 engaging the shank 44 thereof. The levers 43 are pivotedat one end to the lugs 45 on the bracket 27 and at the other end areadjustably attached to the rod 46. The levers are connected by a crosspin carrying a roller 47 which bears against the top of the shank 44 asthe outer end of the lever is moved downward.

The rod 46 is provided at its lower end with stops or hooks spacedapart, so that the levers which operate the rod may have considerableplay independent'of the rod. The levers 48 are pivotally attached td theleve'rs 12 by the pin 49 and are connected on their outer ends by thepin 51 which 'en gages the rod 46 intermediate the stops or hookedportions. The distance between thestops or hooks is such that in theoperation '53 rests between a plate 85, secured to the lower edges oflevers 48 and the head 86 of a bolt 87 which extends through saidspring, plate between said levers and through a plate 88 secured to theupper'edges of the levers12, and is held in position by a nut 89 whichscrews on the upper end of the boltagainst the plate. This spring allowsthe levers 48 to have a motion independent of the levers 12, so thatwhen the pin 51 engages the hook 52 and suflicient pressure has beenexerted on the rubber ring 32, the further movement of levers 12,

due to the motion of the connecting rod 9,

will compress the spring 53. This spring therefore acts as a cushionspring to prevent an excess pressure on the sides of the receptacles asthe caps are being applied. It will, therefore be seen that this featureof the machine provides for a uniform and predetermined pressure throughthe medium of the ring 32, against the flange of the caps 'or retainingbands, for compressing the flange around the neck of the receptacle,

notwithstanding variation in the diameter of receptacle necks whichwould otherwise affect the said pressure and occasion break-' age inreceptacles having necks of large diameter.

The caps, which are to be attached to the receptacles, are generallyplaced in the hopper 54 supported at the top of the machine. The frame55 of the hopper is placed at an angle to accomplish the segregation anddistribution of the caps. Arranged in the frame is a revolubledistributing plate 56, mounted on the shaft 57 provided with a ulley 58,on which operates the belt 59. his' belt is driven from the main driveshaft through belt 61 and suitable pulleys.

The distributing plate 56 is provided at its circumference with aplurality of equally spaced lugs or keys 62, forming between each othera channel having parallel sides. and of a width slightly greater thanthat of the caps. The channels are formed with a curved bottom, tocoincide with the curvature of the top of the cap. The channels are ofsuch height that when the caps are properly seated therein, they do notproject above the top of the keys. Should the cap engage the channel,with its top surface upward it could not properly seat on account of thecurvature of the bottom of the chan' nel and would project above thekeys. From this position it is removed and pushed back into the hopperby the ejector finger 63.

Within the hopper is an agitating'plate i the mouth 69 into so that thecaps 64 which acts to continually turn the caps over so that a certainpercentage will be In proper position to pass through the channels. Theplate is supported in position above the distributing plate by brackets65 attached to the plate and to the frameof the hopper. Parts of theplate 64 are bent downward to meet the face of the distributing plate sothat as this plate rotates, the capsare forced up the inclined surfaces66 on to the body of the plate from which they drop again to thedistributing plate. This operation serves to turn the caps over andkeeps a large number of them turned in the prpper position to passthrough the channe s.

The hopper frame 55 is provided around the circumferencewith a standingedge 67 which at one part lies adjacent the edge of the distributingplate and at another part Is spaced apart therefrom. to form a channel.68 in which the caps are collected. The caps in the channel passtherefrom through the cap chute 71 which extends therefrom to thefeeding passage 41 in the head 26. The chute 71 is arranged are turnedover during their travel to the head; that is, they emerge from thehopper upside downand enter the head in the correctposition. In order toinsurethe proper feeding of the caps to the head, the finger 72 has beenarranged to advance the caps at every capping operation. The finger 72is pivoted to the lever 73 which is pivoted to the frame of the machineand attached at its inner end to a moving part of the machine, such'asthe lever 43. The finger extends through a slot in the cap chute and isheld against the caps by being overbalanced on the other side of itsfulcrum. With each operation of the machine the finger moves up andengages the next cap and moves it downward a distance equal to thediameter of one cap. By means of this positive feed the caps are fedpositively into the head. i

The operation of the machine is as follows, assuming that a bottle andcap are to be used and the table is in approximately the correctadjustment: The bottle is placed on thetable 15 and is positionedagainst the guide 21. The machine being thrown into operation bydepressing the foot lever 6, the levers 12 are operated to raise thebottle. As the neck it engages the cap and 1s moved upward I againstthe-rubber ring35 which causes the cap to seat -firmly on the bottle.During this time the pin 51 has moved downward until it engages the hook52 on the rod 46, and a further movement of the pin operates the levers43, to compress the rubber ring siderable pressure.

of the bottle enters the head. 26'

beenfirmly pressed against the rubber ring 35 the further movement ofthe levers 12, as far as the movement of the table is concerned, istaken up by the spring 25. During the first movement of the levers 12they are fulcrumed on the pin 22, but during the latter movement theypivot about the connection with the links 13 as a fulcrum. Whensuflicientinward pressure has been applied to properly attach the cap,and the levers 12 are still moving downward, the spring 53 is compressedallowing the levers 12 to move without further-advancing the pin 51 andthereby exerting an excess of pressure around the bottle. neck. Duringthese operations the cap feeding device has been operating and thefinger 72 has been moved up and down to advance the caps in thephute 71a distance equal to the diameter of one cap. By screwing the nut 80toward the upper end of the rod 23, the spring 25 may be adjusted toyield so as to allow the table 15 to bring the top of the bottle capagainst the ring 35 with only a slight pressure. By screwing the nut 80down on said rod the spring'may be adjusted so as to yield and limit thepressure of the top of the bottle cap against the ring 35 only when thetable 15 has brought the top of the bottle cap against the ring 35 with,con-

By turning the nut 89 so as to allow the bolt 87 to be extended from theplate and the spring53 to expand, the spring will yield and allow only aslight pressure to be applied'to the ring 32 by the plunger 44. Byturning the nut 89 so as to draw the head 86 of the bolt 87 toward theplate 85 and compress the spring 53, the spring will yield and limit thepressure of the plunger 44 upon the ring 32 only when considerablepressure has been applied by the plunger to the ring. The pressureagainst the top of the bottle cap and the pressure on the side flange ofthe cap may be adjusted independently by turning the nuts 80 and 89respectively; or, the said top and side pressure may be adjustedtogether by turning the nuts 80 and .89 properly together.

I claim: I v

. 1. In an apparatus for sealing bottles and the like, a verticallymovable table adapted to receive the bottle,a lever for moving saidtable, a head arranged above and in line with said table, a flexiblering in said head, a compressor operating to distort said'ring to exertan inward pressure on the neck of thebottle, means in the head forlimiting the upward movement of the bottle, arlever for operating saidcompressor, and means connecting said lever to the table operating leverarranged to actuate the compressorv after the upward movement of thebottle has ceased, the lever operating theta'ble being fulcrumed upon ayielding support.

2. In an apparatus for applying flanged caps to bottles and the like, aframe, a cap applying head arranged on said frame, a verticallyreciprocable table arranged below said head, a lever connected at oneend to said table and at the other end to operating mechanism, avertically movable spring held pivot upon which said lever isfulcr'umed, and means connecting said lever with the cap applying head.

3. In an apparatus for applying flanged caps to bottles andthe like, aframe, a cap applying head arranged on said frame, a verticallyreciprocable table arranged on said frame below said head, a leverarranged to reciprocate said table, and a connection between said leverand said head whereby said cap applying head is moved inwardly againstthe bottle cap for capping the bottle when the bottle and cap arebrought into capping position by said table.

4. In an apparatus of the character disclosed, the combination of meansfor pressing the top of the bottle cap against the mouth of the bottle,a compressible ring, and yielding automatic means for compressing saidring against the flange of the cap, while the top of the cap is held onthe mouth of the bottle, so as to press said flange against the'neck ofthe bottle.

5. In an apparatus of the character disclosed, the combination of meansfor pressing the top of the bottle cap against the mouth of the bottle,a compressible ring and yielding means for compressing said ring againstthe flange of the cap, while the top of the cap is held against themouth of the bottle, so as to press said flange firmly against the neckof the bottle. 4O

6. In an apparatus of the character disclosed, the combination of meansfor pressing the top of the bottle cap against'the mouth of the bottle,a compressible ring, a compressing element for engaging and compressingsaid ring' to. press the flange of the cap against the neck of thebottle, a lever, a second lever pivoted to said first lever, a

. spring interposed lgtween said first lever andone end of said secondlever, connections between the other end of said second.

lever and said compressing element, said first lever being adapted tooperate said compressing element through said second lever and saidconnections, and said spring adapted to yield to prevent further '00pressing movement of said compressing element when said ring has beencompressed to a redetermined degree.

JIIl .an apparatus of the character disclosed; a support for the bottle,a head in alinementwith said support, a flexible. member in said headfor engaging bottle cap, a flexible ring in said head for engaging theflange of the bottle cap, a lever for moving said support, to bring thethe top of the mouth of the bottle into said head and the top of saidcap against said flexible member to hold the top of the cap against themouth of the bottle, a compressor for engaging and compressing saidflexible ring so that said ring will press the flange of the cap firmlyagainst the neck of the bottle, a second lever pivoted to said firstlever, a spring interposed between said first lever and one end of saidsecond lever, connections between the other end of said second lever andsaid compressor, said first lever being adapted to operate saidcompressor through said second lever and connections and said springbeing adapted to'yield to prevent further compressing movement of saidcompressor when said flexible'ring has been compressed to apredetermined degree.

8. In an apparatus for applying flanged sealing caps to bottles and thelike;"a"reciprocable bottle support,'a cap applying head in alinementwith said support, power applying means, means connecting'said powerapplying means and said support for reciprocating said support, meansconnecting said power applying means to said cap applying head toactuate said head, and a spring interposed between said supportconnecting cap flange and means for adjusting the tension of saidspring.

/ 10. In an apparatus of the character disclosed, an elastic element,means for causing the top of the bottlecap to engage saidelasticelement, a spring associated with said means adapted to yield andlimit the pres; sure of the top of said bottle cap against said elasticelement, means for ad ust1ng the tensionof said spring, a second elasticelement, means for pressing said second elastic element against'the capflange to press sald flange firmly against the neck of the bottle,

while the cap is pressed against the mouth of the bottle, a springassociated with said pressing means for said second elastic element,adapted to yield to limit the pressure of said elastic element againstsaid cap flange and means for adjusting the tension of said spring.

11'. In an apparatus for applying flanged 'caps to bottles and thelike,- a cap applying head, a reciprocatable table in alinement withsaid head, a cross piece, a rod extendmeans and said head connectingmeans ing reciprocatively mounted in said cross piece, a springsurrounding said rod and resting at one end against said cross piece, anut screwing on said rod against the other end of said spring, a leverpivoted upon said rod and connected to said table, means connecting saidlever to said cap applying head and means for actuating said lever.

12. In an apparatus of the character disclosed, a support for thebottle, a head in alinement with said support, a flexible member in saidhead for engaging the top of the bottle cap, a flexible ring in saidhead for engaging the flange of the bottle cap, a lever for moving saidsupport, to bring the mouth of the bottle into said head and the top ofsaid cap against said flexible member to hold the top of the cap againstthe mouth of the bottle, :a compressor for engaging and compressing saidflexible ring so that said ring will the flange of the cap firmlyagainst the neck of the bottle, a second lever pivoted to said firstlever, a spring interposed between said first lever and one end of saidsecond lever, connections between the other end of said second-lever andsaid compressor said first lever being adapted to operate saidcompressor through said second lever and connections and said springbeing adapted to yield to prevent further compressing movement of saidcompressor when said flexible ring has been compressed to apredetermined degree, and means for adjusting the tension of saidspring.

13. In an apparatus of the'character disclosed, a cap topengaging-element for hold-' ing the cap on the mouth of the bottle,yield- 1ng means for causing said cap top engaging element to engage thecap top with a definite pressure, means for adjusting said yieldingmeans to vary the pressure of said element against the bottle cap top, acap flange engaging element, yielding means for actuating said flangeengaging element to press the cap flange against the neck of the bottlewith a definite pressure, and means for adjusting said yielding means tovary the pressure of said flange engaging element against said capflange 1 1. In an apparatus of the character disclosed, a cap topengaging element for holding the cap on the mouth of the bottle,yielding means for causing said element to engage the top of the capwith a definite pressure, a cap flange engaging element, yielding meansfor actuating said flange engaging element to press the cap flangeagainst the neck of the bottle with a definite pressure and independentadjusting means for respectively adjusting both of said yielding mes tovary the pressure of said elements agast the top and flange of thebottle cap respeetively.

yielding means for actuating said flange ele-- ment to press the capflange against the neck of the bottle with a definite pressure, andmeans for adjusting said yielding means to vary the pressure of saidflange engaging element against said cap flange.

16. In an apparatus of the character disclosed, a cap top engagingelement for holding the cap on the mouth of the bottle, automaticyielding means for causing said element to engage the top of the capwith a definite pressure, a cap flange engaging ele'- ment, automaticyielding means for actuating said "flange engaging element to press thecap flange against the neck of the bottle with a definite pressure andindependent adjusting means for respectively adjusting both of saidyielding means to vary the pressure of said elements against the top andflange of the bottle cap respectively.

17 In an apparatus of the character disclosed, a support for the bottle,a head in alinement with said support, a member in said head forengaging the top of the bottle cap, a ring in said head for engaging theflange of the bottle cap, a lever for moving said support, to bring themouth of the bottle into said head and the top of said cap against saidmember to hold the top of the cap against the mouth of the bottle, acompressor for engaging and compressing said ring so that said ring willpress the flange .of the cap firmly against the neck of the bottle, asecond lever pivoted to said first lever, a spring interposed betweensaid first lever and one end of said second lever, connections betweenthe other end of said second lever and said compressor, said first leverbeing adapted to operate said compressor through said second lever andconnections and said spring being adapted to yield to prevent furthercompressing movement of said compressor When said ring has beencompressed to a predetermined degree, and means for adjusting thetension of said spring.

' In testimony whereof, I have hereunto set my hand at San Francisco,California, this 25th day of November 1911.

H. G. Pnos'r, R. HEFFERNAN.

